In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims, early settlers of Plymouth Colony, held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest, an event many regard as the nation's first Thanksgiving. Historians have also recorded ceremonies of thanks among other groups of European settlers in North America, including British colonists in Virginia in 1619. The legacy of thanks and the feast have survived the centuries, as the event became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.

Number of places and townships in the United States that are named Cranberry or some spelling variation of the acidic red berry (e.g., Cranbury, N.J.), a popular side dish at Thanksgiving. Cranberry Township (Butler County), Pa., was the most populous of these places in 2010, with 28,251 residents. Cranberry township (Venango County), Pa., was next (6,647). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2011/SUB-EST2011-4.html>

The number of grocery stores in the United States in 2010. These establishments are expected to be extremely busy around Thanksgiving, as people prepare for their delightful meals. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS Code 44511 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>

4,030

The number of baked goods stores in the United States in 2010 — a potential place to visit to purchase refreshing desserts. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS Code 445291 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>

2,979

The number of fruit and vegetable markets in the United States in 2010 — a great place to find those holiday side dishes. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS Code 445230 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>

$12.1 million

The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys from January through July of 2012, with 99.8 percent of them coming from Canada. When it comes to sweet potatoes, the Dominican Republic was the source of 45.3 percent (2.5 million) of total imports ($5.6 million). The United States ran a $9.1 million trade deficit in live turkeys during the period but had a surplus of $40.6 million in sweet potatoes. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/>

768 million pounds

The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2012. Wisconsin is estimated to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 450 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (estimated at 210 million).

If you prefer cherry pie, you will be pleased to learn that the nation's forecasted tart cherry production for 2012 totals 73.1 million pounds, down 68 percent from the 2011 production. Of this 2012 total, Pennsylvania led the country, producing an estimated 34 million pounds. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, <http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CherProd/CherProd-06-28-2012.pdf> Page 1

2.27 billion bushels

The forecasted total volume of wheat — the essential ingredient of bread, rolls and pie crust — produced in the United States in 2012. Kansas, Montana and North Dakota accounted for an estimated 40 percent of the nation's wheat production. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, The following data can be accessed through this website. <http://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/results/3A61136C-28A8-3C2A-A7EF-DA476776BD9F>

The estimate of turkeys Minnesota expects to raise in 2012. The Gopher State was tops in turkey production, followed by North Carolina (36 million), Arkansas (29 million), Missouri (18 million), Virginia (17 million) and Indiana (17 million). These six states together account for about two-thirds of U.S. turkeys produced in 2012. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, <http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/TurkRaisSu/TurkRaisSu-09-28-2012.pdf>

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